Dennis Lynn Mills, 71, passed away at his home in Montrose on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Dennis was born on July 22, 1955, to Monna Lou (Gilbert) Mills and H.L. (Dude) Mills in Glenwood Springs Colorado.

The family lived in Delta County until Dennis’ teen years when they moved to Montrose. Dennis attended Montrose High School and graduated in 1974. After graduation Dennis attended Western State College in Gunnison for a time. Deciding college wasn’t for him, he moved back to Montrose and returned to the lumber business. Dennis worked in the lumber business along with his father and brothers. Dennis began as a boy working in the yard at Independent Lumber. In 1968 Dude Mills and Bob Jackson bought a Montrose lumber yard and renamed it J & M Lumber. Dennis worked at J & M Lumber until1995 when Dude and Bob sold the yard. The ownership of the lumber yard changed many times throughout the years. Dennis stayed on through them all and worked as an Outside Salesman until he retired from Builders First Source in June of 2024.

Dennis loved the outdoors. He enjoyed gardening, growing and canning vegetables. Fishing, hunting and weekends on the family property at Waterdog were things Dennis loved. From the time his kids were small until a few years ago riding the 4-wheelers and exploring and making new trails on the land was the entire Mills family’s favorite. Dennis was a wonderful loving and dedicated father, grandfather, brother, son and husband. Dennis took great pride and joy in his children and cherished his wife. His grandchildren were the light of his life; with them he was all smiles. He will be greatly missed.

Dennis married Mary Jo Schwindt on August 4, 1979, in Lakewood Colorado where Mary Jo grew up. The two lived and raised their children in Montrose for the last 47 years. Dennis was preceded in death by his father Dude, mother Monna, and brothers Danny and Darrin Mills. Dennis is survived by wife Mary Jo, daughter Nicole (Jonathon) Howell, daughter Andrea (Jesse) Gross, son Jeremy, grandchildren McKenzie, Addison, Alexis, Ayla, Marley and Lyrik all of Montrose, Qwynn (Colorado Springs) and Titan (Texas),

There will be a Celebration of Life at Crippin Funeral Home, 802 East Main Street; 1pm Friday November 6, 2026. The celebration will be followed by a reception at the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive.

Donations to Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans in Memory of Dennis can be made through Donate to Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans www.buildinglives.org/donate/ and would be appreciated by his family.